Flexible paper fastener



July 19, 1966 c. R. CHAMBERLIN FLEXIBLE PAPER FASTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1964 I N VEN TOR. Coleman R Chamber/4h A7TDRNEYS.

y 1966 c. R. CHAMBERLIN 3,261,066

FLEXIBLE PAPER FASTENER Filed Aug. 14, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

gels/71am R (bamber/zh United States Patent 3,261,066 FLEXIBLE PAPER FASTENER Coleman R. Chamberlin, Thompson Ridge, N.Y. (P.O. Box 1266, New Windsor, Newburgh, N.Y.)

Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 389,720

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-153) This invention relates to the art of paper fasteners and more particularly concerns an improved paper fastener.

Heretofore, conventional paper fasteners employed a two-part assembly. One part consisted of a crossbar having long, pliable metal fingers; and the other part consisted of a crossbar having transverse slots to receive the pliable fingers. This type of fastener which is in general use, has a number of objectionable features. One is that the sharp edges of the metal parts out and tear the paper sheets. Another is the difficulty in opening and closing the bent fingers, and in removing paper sheets from a pile without tearing them. Another is the danger of cutting ones own fingers or breaking fingernails while manipulating the parts of the fasteners. A further objection is the binding of the paper sheets in a pile so tightly together that it is not possible to read marginal material covered up by the crossbars on the top sheet or on any of the lower sheets in the pile. A still further objection is the necessity to provide different sizes of fasteners for different thicknesses of paper piles. For thin piles, the larger fasteners are too large and for thick piles the smaller fasteners are too small. Furthermore, the conventional metal fasteners are relatively expensive and wasteful of material.

The present invention is directed at overcoming the above and other difficulties and disadvantages of the conventional paper fasteners described.

According to the invention, there is provided a device which simplifies the fastening of a pile of paper sheets together. The device includesan elastic, stretchable band, strand or loop made of natural or synthetic rubber or plastic. To each end of this band may be attached a rigid or pliable metal or plastic strip. The strips are narrow enough to pass through pre-punched holes in the paper sheets. Free ends of the strips can be detachably engaged together. The elastic band can stretch to accommodate any desired number of paper sheets as more sheets are added to the pile or taken away from the pile. The elastic band secures the sheets in the pile together in tension, and is sufiiciently stretchable so that any number of upper sheets in the pile can be turned back to form two sections with the uppermost sheet in each section entirely exposed. The mutually attached strips can be quickly disengaged for adding more sheets or removing some sheets from the pile.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a paper fastener device including an elastic band as an essential member to bind punched paper sheets together in tension in a pile.

A further object is to provide a paper fastener device including two mutually engageable strips at opposite ends of an elastic band.

Another object is to provide a paper fastener device of the character described, wherein the elastic band can be an endless loop or a single length made of natural or artificial rubber or plastic material.

Still another object is to provide a pile of paper sheets bound together by an elastic paper fastener of the character described.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pile of papers bound together by a paper fastener according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique top view of the pile of papers of FIG. 1, shown in an open, turned back position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of parts of the paper fastener.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another paper fastener according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of parts of another paper fastener.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another paper fastener.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are fragmentary perspective views of parts of other paper fasteners.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a paper fastener 10 including an endless elastic band 12 made of rubber or plastic material. The fastener also includes a pair of strips 14, 16. Strip 14 is a substantially fiat member made of metal or plastic material. One end is turned over to form a book 18 in which can be engaged one looped end B of the band 12. The hook 18 can be made pliable or flexible to permit the looped end B to be detachably engaged thereon. The other strip 16 has a similar turned over hook 20 for engaging looped end B of the band 12. An eye 19 or 19' is provided at each of the hooks 18, 20 through which the looped ends of the band extend, as clearly shown in FIG. 1. The other end 21 of strip 16 is formed with an eye or opening 22 which may be rectangular, circular or of some other suitable shape. The end 21 of the strip 16 may be offset slightly from the plane of the body 1'7 of the strip. Strip 14 has a catch member in the form of a hook 24 at its other end 25. This end 25 is tapered from the fiat body 27 of the strip 14 so that the book 24 is no wider than the open ing 22 in strip 16. End 25 of strip 14 can be slightly offset from the plane of body 27. This offset arrangement of the ends 21, 25 of the strips 14, 16 facilitates quick engagement of the hook 24 in the eye 22, and quick disengagement therefrom.

When the looped ends E, E of the band 12 are engaged on hooks 18, 20 as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the body of the band defines double elastic strands 28 extending through spaced holes 30 formed in the pile P of paper sheets 32. Holes 30 are located near one edge 31 of the paper sheets. The stretched band 12 holds the papers tightly together in a neat pile as shown in FIG. 1. If one section S1 of the pile is turned over and back as shown in FIG. 2, then the uppermost sheet 33 on the remaining section S2 of the pile is fully exposed so that written data 34 appearing near the upper margin of sheet 33 is exposed for reading. Similarly, written data 35 appearing at the bottom margin of the top sheet 36 of section S1 is also fully exposed. The band 12 stretches to expose these marginal edges of the paper sheets 33, 36. In addition, the stretched band holds the two sections S1, S2 in end abutment so that the sections lie fiat in coplanar alignment as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

More sheets can be added to pile P by disengaging the hook 24 and eye 22 of strips 14, 16 and inserting the released strips through holes 30 in the sheets to be added. The strips will, of course, be narrower in width W than the diameter D of the holes, as indicated in FIG. 4. As more sheets are added the tension of the band 12 increases so that the sheets are bound together more tightly. The band 12 can be sufficiently elastic so that pile P has any number up to several hundred or more sheets, Regardless of the number of sheets and the thickness of the pile P, the band 12 will hold them all together neatly and orderly. Strips 14, 16 can be made of rigid or pliable metal or plastic material. The strips can be made on metal or plastic working machinery at low cost by mass production methods. Band 12 can be conventional type of flat rubber band, but it is preferred that it have a circular cross section to lie smoothly and to avoid cutting the paper at the holes where tension is applied.

The elastic band instead of being endless may be formed of the single strand of elastic material as shown in FIG. 6 with the ends thereof inserted through the holes 30 shown in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 6-8 is shown another fastener 10a in which band 12a is made of a single strand of elastic material. Enlargements which may be spherical knobs 40 are molded at opposite ends of the band; see FIG. 8.

The fastener further includes strips 14a, 16a. Strip 14a has a hook 41 formed at one end, with a keyhole slot or eye 42 therein. One of the knobs 40 can be pushed through the circular end 42' of the slot 42 and the band 12a will then be engaged in the narrower end 42" of the slot, as clearly shown in FIG. 6. The other strip 16a has a hook 43 formed at one end with a keyhole slot or eye 44 for engaging the other end of band 12a in the same manner as slot 42.

The other end 45 of strip 14a is formed with a catch member in the form of narrow hook 46 which engages in an opening or eye 48 in the other end 49 of strip 16a. Opposite edges 50a, 59b of eye 48 are inclined to facilitate insertion of the hook 46 therein. The edge 50a snugly engages in the bight 53 of hook 46 as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 7. The two strips 14a, 16a of fastener 10a can be inserted through holes 30 of the paper sheets of pile P shown in FIG. 1 in place of fastener 10. The strips 14a, 16a can be made of molded plastic material or may be made of metal. If made of metal they can be struck out of blanks on metal punching machines at low cost.

In FIG. 9 is shown another fastener 10b in which band 12a is associated with another pair of strips 14b, 16b. Keyhole slots or eyes 42a, 44a are formed in outer ends of the flat strips respectively for receiving and engaging the ends of band 12a. Strip 14b has at its other end a catch member in the form of a knob 60 supported by a narrow post 62 extending upwardly from the plane of the strip. Strip 16b has another keyhole slot or eye 62 whose circular end 62' receives and passes knob 60, while post 62 engages in the narrower portion 62" of the slot. The strips 14b, 16b can be made of metal or plastic material.

In FIG. 10 there is shown another fastener 10c employing strips 140, 16c having hooks 64, 66 at outer ends of engaging ends E, E of endless band 12. The hooks may be struck out of the material of the strips leaving keyhole slots or eyes 70, 70'. If desired, instead of the band 12, ends of band 12a having knobs 40 thereon can be engaged in the keyhole slots 70 or 70' of strips 140, 16c as illustrated in FIG. 12. A further keyhole slot or eye 68 is formed in the other end of strip 160 which can receive and hold a T-shaped catch member or hook 71 formed on the other end of strip 140.

FIG. 11 shows part of the strip 14a with the looped end EE of an elastic band 12 engaged on hook 41 and extending through eye 42. The other end of the band will be engaged on strip 16a in a similar manner.

FIG. 13 shows one end of band 12a engaged in eye 19 of hook 18 on the strip 14. The hook 20 and eye 19 of mating strip 16, shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, will engage the other end of band 12a.

The strips of the several fasteners are thus arranged so that bands 12 and 12a are interchangeably used. In all fasteners there would be provided two mutually engageable strips and an elastic band extending through holes in the bound paper sheets and secured at its ends 011 hooks at ends of the mutually engageable strips. The fasteners can be manufactured at very low cost. One size of each strip and band serves for binding paper piles having a wide range of thicknesses ranging up to several inches. The fasteners are easy and safe to use. They provide long, trouble-free service, and embody many improved features over conventional paper fasteners.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A paper fastener, comprising a first substantially rigid strip having a hook and eye at one end, a second substantially rigid strip having another hook and another eye at one end, a catch member formed at the other end of the first strip, the second section having an opening formed at the other end thereof for receiving and engaging said catch member, and an elastic band having opposite ends engaged respectively with the hooks and eyes of the first and second strips, said band having enlargements at its opposite ends, said eyes being in the form of keyhole slots having larger ends to receive said enlargements and hav ing narrower ends to engage end portions of the band adjacent to said enlargements to prevent withdrawal of the band, the catch member and opening having coacting inclined surfaces to facilitate entrance of the catch member into the opening and to interlock the strips effectively.

2. As an article of manufacture, a bound pile of paper sheets, said sheets having spaced registering holes therein, an elastic stretched band having opposite end portions extending through said holes and holding the sheets tightly together in tension, a first substantially rigid strip having catch means at one end, a second substantially rigid strip having an opening at one end for detachably engaging said catch means, each of said strips having its other end formed with an eye, the eyes having larger ends and narrower ends, said elastic band having opposite ends respectively engaged in the eyes of the two strips so that the sheets are held tightly together in tension, and so that a part of said pile can be folded back to form two thinner sections with adjacent ends abutting each other and with adjacent marginal ends of the topmost sheets of the two sections substantially completely exposed, said catch means being in the form of a hook, and said opening having inclined opposite edge walls to facilitate engagement and disengagement of said hook, said band adapted to engage the narrower ends of the eyes to prevent withdrawal of the band.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Cameron. 415 942 Pitts 24-117 Wheeler 24 2s 5815 16 McGlashan 2s 22s 5 5,898 Many 1291 X 9, Pollack. 213,261 Westphal 2467 Spector 24153 Diaz 24-225 1 Lu 2417 X FOREIGN PATENTS WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PAPER FASTENER, COMPRISING A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID STRIP HAVING A HOOK AND EYE AT ONE END, A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID STRIP HAVING ANOTHER HOOK AND ANOTHER EYE AT ONE END, A CATCH MEMBER FORMED AT THE OTHER END OF THE FIRST STRIP, THE SECOND SECTION HAVING AN OPENING FORMED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF FOR RECEIVING AND ENGAGING SAID CATCH MEMBER, AND AN ELASTIC BAND HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS ENGAGED RESPECTIVELY WITH THE HOOKS AND EYES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND STRIPS, SAID BAND HAVING ENLARGEMENTS AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, SAID EYES BEING IN THE FORM OF KEYHOLE SLOTS HAVING LARGER ENDS TO RECEIVE SAID ENLARGEMENTS AND HAVING NARROWER ENDS TO ENGAGE END PORTIONS OF THE BAND ADJACENT TO SAID ENLARGEMENTS TO PREVENT WITHDRAWAL OF THE BAND, THE CATCH MEMBER AND OPENING HAVING COACTING INCLINED SURFACES TO FACILITATE ENTRANCE OF THE CATCH MEMBER INTO THE OPENING AND TO INTERLOCK THE STRIPS EFFECTIVELY. 